Telescopic socket wrench



Dec. 321, 11929. P. BIDAL TELESCOPIC SOCKET WRENCE Filed Aug. 15. 1928 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 PAUL IBIDAL, OF PARIS, FRANCE TELEsco'PIo SOCKET WRENCH Application filed August 15, 1928, Serial No. 299,791, and in France August 22, 1927.

This invention has for its chief object to provide a socket wrench of telescopic or expansible structure adapted to ensure a powerful leverage when in use andto only occupy a minimum space, for example for storage in the tool box of an automobile, when out of use.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telescopic socket wrench embodying the invention and provided with a removable socket Fig. 2.

Figure 3 is a similar side elevation-of the wrench showing it expanded with its reversible handle in another or operative position.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view showing stop means for limiting the outward telescopic motion of the slide.

Figure 5 is a part cross-section on the line g- Figure 6 is a similar view to Fig. 4 showing a modification of the'stop means.

Figure 7 is a plan view showing a detail of the stop means illustrated in Fig. 5.

The same reference characters denote the a same parts in all the figures.

A designates thesocket or box member of the wrench, having an internal crosssectiona1 shape and size adapted to match the nuts or similar members to be tightened or loosened. This socket member A may be cast integrally with the shank a of the wrench or removably fitted on its end, preferably elbowed or cranked at a as shown and held thereon by any approved means, as for example by a spring-pressed ball-detent b housed in the end of the shank a and slightly protruding therefrom for yieldingly engaging the inner wall of the socket tail.

' As will be seen, the shank a of the wrench is formed in the embodiment shown of a solid metal handle B arranged substantially at 1 right angles to the slide and comprising a prismatical hub d shaped and sized so as to be freely movable along said slide. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, adjacent one of its ends the prismatical slide C is cylindrically shaped over a short portion of its length as at e, the diameter of this cylindrical portion substantially corresponding to that of the circumference that is circumscribed in the prismatical or polygonal contour of the hub d of the handle B (see Fig. 2 this cylindrical portion 6 is advantageously provided on the slide 0 at a distance equal to about twice the width of the hub (Z and is as long as said hub.

The handle B is slid onto the prismatical outer end portion of the slide C when the wrench is to be used i. e. when the shank a has been telescopically slid out of the slide 0 to the maximum extent. In order to stop the handle on said outer prismatical end portion, the latter is flanged at C or provided with a similar projection. Moreover in order to limit the inward stroke of the handle B way of its width with a spring-pressed balldetent f slightly protruding into the prismatical bore of its hub (Z, and adapted to engage a corresponding depression in the outer wall of the slide C. Alternatively, the slide C may be terminally fitted, as shown in Fig. 1, with a lug or like projection h adapted to stop the inward stroke of the handle B therealong.

To limit the outward stroke of the slide 0 with respect to the shank a, stop means are provided. Said means may take any approved form, two of which being exemplified in Figs. 4 to 7.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the shank a is formed adjacent its free end wi h an incurved recess 3; in

which ishoused a segmental bolt 1) submitted to the outward push of a plunger 1' acted upon by a coil spring housed in a slanting side exfl/yf'tension m of the recess p. A step like notch 5 is formed in the internal wall of the slide C adjacent its inner end whereby the en gagement of the bolt p and notch g firmly stops the outward stroke of the slide 0- with respect to the shank a while permitting the slide C to be retracted inwardly by collapsing the bolt 72 into its recess p against the coil spring 0.

According to the other embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the shank a is formed adja- 5 cent its free end with a quadrangular recess on into which can freely penetrate a bolt 10 having a slanting upper face in the outward direction and constantly subjected to the outward push of a'coil spring 0 abutting on the bottom of said recess. The internal wall of the slide C is formed adjacent its inner end with a step like notch q with which the bolt can engage, as described with reference to *igs. 4 and 5.

To limit the inward stroke of'the slide C with respect to the shank (1 preferably so that the outer end of the latter SllOlllCl COIIlG flush with the flange C formed on the outer end of the slide G, a spring-pressed ball-detent f is housed adjacent the outer end of the shank a and there is formed in the slide adjacent its outer end a corresponding depression or hole into which the ball f can snap and thus hold the shank and slide locked against any further motion. The ball f can be readily disengaged from the said depression or hole and the shank and slide thus freed from each other by manually pulling them apart with a sufficient tractional stress.

It will be appreciated that numerous minor constructional details of this improved telescopic socket wrench might be changed without departing from the s irit of the invention as set forth in the su joined claims. 4,5 Thus for instance the word prismatical as applied to the cross-sectional shape of the shank and slide must be broadly construed as involving any telescopically but non-revolubly inter-engaging contours. Further the stop means for limiting the inward and outward strokes of the slide with respect to the shank might be varied. The means for arresting the motion of the handle along the slide might also be varied.

lVhat I claim is 1. A telescopic socket wrench comprising, in combination, a socket-carrying shank, a hollow slide havin a borematching the crosssectional shape 0 the shank so as to telescopically but non-revolubly engage it and also having a. non-circular exterior and a more limited circular portion, a handle mounted on the slide and formed with a hub having a bore matching the outer contour of the slide so as to engage it slidably throughout its length and revolubly over a short portion of the length of said slide, sto means for limiting the outward and inwar strokes of the slide along the shank, and stop means for limiting the outward and inward strokes of the handle along the slide.

2. A telescopic socket wrench comprising, in combination, a socket-carrying shank, a hollow slide having a bore matching the crosssectional shape of the shank so as to telescopically but non-revolubly engage it, said slide having a prismatical cross-sectional contour over the greater portion of its length and presenting over a short portion of its length a circular contour, cross-sectionally circumscribed in said prismatical contour, a handle mounted on the slide and formed with a hub having a prismatical bore matching the prismatical contour of the slide so as to engage it slidably throughout its length and revolubly over its short circular portion, stop means for limiting the outward and inward strokes of the slide along the shank, and stop means for limiting the outward and inward strokes of the handle along the slide.

3. A telescopic socket wrench comprising, in combination, a shank terminally cranked at right angles, a socket member removably fitted on the cranked end of the shank, a hollow elongated slide provided at both ends with projections and having a bore matching the cross-sectional shapeof the shank so as to telescopically but non-revolubly engage it, said slide having a prismatical cross-sectional contour over the greater portion of its length and presenting over a short portion of its length a circular contour cross-sectionally circumscribed in said prismatical contour, a handle angularly mounted on the slide and formed with a hub having a prismatical bore matching the prismatical contour of the slide so as to engage it slidably throughout its length and revolubly over its short circular portion. a spring-actuated bolt housed in a recess formed in the prismatical surface of the shank and adapted to snap into a corresponding notch formed in the internal wall.

of the inner end portion of the slide, and a spring-pressed ball-detent housed in the outer end portion of the shank and adapted to snap into a corresponding depression formed in the internal wall of the outer end portion of the slide.

4. A telescopic socket wrench comprising, in combination, a shank terminally cranked at right angles, a socket member removably fitted on the cranked end of the shank, a hollow elongated slide provided at both ends with projections and having a bore matching the cross-sectional shape of the shank so as to telescopically but non-revolubly engage it, said slide having a prismatical cross-sectional contour over the greater portion of its length and presenting over a short portion of its length a circular contour cross-sectionally circumscribed in said prismatical contour, a

handle mounted at right angles on the slide and formed with a hub having a prismatical bore matching the prismatical contour of the slide so as to engage it slidably throughout its length and revolubly over its short circular portion, an arcuate bolt housed in a recess formed in the prismatical surface of the shank and acted upon by a coil spring housed in a side extension of said recess so as to snap into a corresponding step notch cut in the internal Wall of the inner end portion of the slide, and a spring-pressed ball-detent housed in the outer end portion of the shank and adapted to snap into a corresponding depression formed in the internal wall of the outer end portion of the slide.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PAUL BIDAL. 

